Mo Xiao was wreathed in black mist, his gaze fixed on Chiyun as if looking at a dead man. No, a dead ox.
Chiyun lifted his chin and rolled his eyes at Mo Xiao. *What are you glaring at? So what if I kicked you? You little furball, what are you going to do, fly to the heavens?*
"Chiyun, are you bullying Curly again?"
Jun Jiuqi saw through Chiyun’s little stunt immediately. She grabbed him by the ear, ignored his exaggerated "ouch," and stood up to scoop the fallen Curly off the ground.
Jun Jiuqi held Curly under its armpits, brought it close to her face, and planted a loud kiss right on its forehead.
Mo Xiao: "..."
"There, there, my cute little Curly. It doesn't hurt, it doesn't hurt. Let me rub it better, and the pain will fly away!"
With those last three words, Jun Jiuqi’s voice took on a sweet, doting tone so sugary it could drown someone.
Jun Jiuqi continued to cuddle, hug, and lift the creature high in the air, a display that made Chiyun burn with jealousy. *Why is Jiujiu so fond of such an ugly thing? She never coddled me like this when I was little.*
And so, Lord Chiyun, who had lived for nearly three thousand years, bared his sharp little fangs at the creature—which was not even the size of a palm—wishing he could swallow it whole.
Mo Xiao felt completely defeated, his heart screaming in protest. *Stop! Don't touch this Emperor! You bold little girl, where are you holding me? Dammit! How does this girl have no sense of shame?*
Mo Xiao knew that the Jun Jiuqi before him was no mere eleven or twelve-year-old girl. When they had first collided, he had caught a glimpse of a blurred figure—a woman in the prime of her youth, certainly not a child. He suspected that this little girl was currently trapped in a child’s form due to a grievous injury that had left her soul in a weakened state. Her mind, however, was clearly that of a mature adult. This made Jun Jiuqi's series of "affectionate gestures" utterly impossible for him to accept.
Unfortunately, in his current weakened state, he couldn't resist at all. He endured her loving kisses and hugs with a blank, indifferent expression. *If the old fossils in the Divine Temple ever found out about this, where would I, the Emperor Lord of an entire continent, hide my face?*
Finally, Lv Xiuer finished packing, and Jun Qingfeng had been waiting outside for quite some time.
Jun Jiuqi picked up the fluffy Curly. Thinking of the cold weather outside, she cradled the creature’s bottom and tucked it securely inside the collar of her robes, right against her chest."Curly, be a good boy and stay here to sleep, you hear me? It's cold outside, I'll let you out once we get indoors."
A refreshing fragrance washed over him as Mo Xiao was tucked inside Jun Jiuqi's robes. Enveloped entirely as if wrapped in soft marshmallows, he stiffened for a moment.
Suddenly, Mo Xiao felt completely uneasy, his limbs too rigid to move.
When she had stuffed him into her bosom earlier, he was still unconscious and hadn't felt a thing.
Now, experiencing this "close contact" fully awake...
Mo Xiao struggled to break free from Jun Jiuqi's embrace, but the moment he poked his head out, Jun Jiuqi pushed it right back in.
"Don't come out, be good."
That delicate, elegant fragrance assaulted his senses once more.
Mo Xiao tried several times in a row, but failed every single time.
In the end, Jun Jiuqi simply pulled her collar tighter, completely sealing off any escape route for Mo Xiao.
With the bundle in her arms finally falling still, Jun Jiuqi could rest easy.
Before long, they arrived at the banquet hall.
"Third Brother, you're here!"
Jun Qingshan hurried forward the moment he caught sight of Jun Qingfeng and his family.
Guided by him, Jun Qingfeng's family stepped into the main hall.
In an instant, countless gazes converged upon them.
Inquisitive, appraising, carrying hidden meanings.
Everyone had already caught wind of the news: earlier that day, Steward Xu had personally stepped in to settle Jun Qingfeng's family in Youran Cottage. Within half a day, the word had spread throughout the entire Jun Family.
It seemed the old patriarch cared quite a deal about this son who had been away from home for fifteen years.
To let them stay even in Youran Cottage, right beside Gusong Hall—that was not a privilege just anyone could have.
Still, that was all it was.
The established power structure of the Jun Family for all these years would not change simply because someone who had been away for over a decade had returned.
"Third Brother, several of the family uncles and elders are waiting. Let me take you to meet them first."
Jun Qingfeng glanced at a group of old men not far away, then instructed Lv Xiuer, "You take the children to sit over there, I'll be right back."
"Go ahead, don't worry about us."
With that, Jun Qingfeng followed Jun Qingshan away.
Led to a seat, Jun Jiuqi sat down and watched her father exchanging pleasantries with the crowd. From beginning to end, he was neither servile nor overbearing, his etiquette impeccable.
Before long, he blended seamlessly into the banquet.The elders in the clan gradually began to smile at him. The Jun Qingfeng of the past had been a rare and brilliant talent of the Jun Family, and great hopes had once been pinned on him.
The younger generation today might not know it, but these elders certainly did.
Coupled with the fact that they had been neighbors back in the old days, they still showed him a measure of respect.
Once a respected elder of the clan took the lead, the others naturally followed suit, stepping forward to offer toasts and pleasantries.
"Third Brother, you were once the top genius of our Jun Family. It's been many years since we last met, and today we are holding a banquet to welcome you back. Why don't we have a sparring match to liven up the party?"
Jun Qingya suddenly stood up.
The scene instantly went quiet.
Everyone turned to look at Jun Qingfeng.
Jun Qingfeng clutched his wine cup, a bitter smile involuntarily rising in his heart.
He had known that Jun Qingya wouldn't be kind enough to welcome him back out of the goodness of his heart; this turned out to be a trap.
Jun Qingya gave a look to his men in the crowd, and upon receiving it, those people immediately began to instigate the others.
"I think this is a great idea! We're all eager to witness the demeanor of the Jun Family's top genius from back in the day!"
"That's right! Let us open our eyes!"
The crowd below grew noisy and boisterous, pushing Jun Qingfeng into the spotlight.
"Why isn't Third Uncle speaking? Could it be that Third Uncle is scared? Surely not? You were the top genius of our Jun Family back then, and how many people once admired your demeanor? Or perhaps you feel that our status is too lowly, and we aren't worthy of seeing you make a move?"
This was directly placing a high-sounding crown upon him. If Jun Qingfeng refused, he would inevitably be accused of being arrogant and looking down on everyone.
But if he accepted...
Jun Qingfeng looked at Jun Qingya in the main seat; it was clear as day that Jun Qingya wanted to humiliate him in public.
With his current strength, facing Jun Qingya's Rank Six Warrior cultivation, he was no match at all!
Jun Qingya was trying to make an example of him to frighten the others, completely ruining his reputation within the Jun Family!
Jun Qingfeng clenched his fists slightly, but backing down like this was simply not in his nature!
"Fine! Then—"
"Father, let me do it!"
Just as Jun Qingfeng was about to agree, a clear and spirited voice suddenly interrupted him.
Jun Jiuqi met the crowd's puzzled gazes and stood up, neither servile nor overbearing. "This junior has also heard of First Uncle's demeanor and holds him in high admiration. Since it's a sparring match, this junior is willing to take my father's place in the arena. I hope First Uncle will offer some guidance!"
After a moment of silence in the banquet hall, an uproar instantly broke out.
"You want to challenge the Family Head?"
"Hahaha, you yellow-haired girl, what nerve!"
Hearing that Jun Jiuqi was stepping out to fight in her father's place, the crowd burst into raucous laughter!
Jun Qingfeng truly had no spine. Who knew if that reputation as a genius had just been bragged about, since he didn't even have the guts to enter the arena!
And that yellow-haired girl was even more audacious, actually daring to dream of challenging the Family Head.
"What? Is there a rule in the Jun Family that juniors aren't allowed to spar with their elders?"
Jun Jiuqi wore an expression of pure puzzlement.
"Didn't First Uncle himself say that we should have a sparring match to liven up the banquet? Since it's just for fun, who goes up doesn't matter, does it? Furthermore, I deeply admire First Uncle's demeanor, and stepping up myself fulfills that admiration of mine. It's a wonderful thing that serves multiple purposes."
Jun Jiuqi's words were like a soft blade, suppressing all the doubts from every direction while leaving people momentarily speechless.
Jun Qingya suddenly found himself in a difficult spot.
He never would have imagined that his obnoxious Third Brother would have such a sharp-tongued daughter.
He had originally wanted to use this banquet to properly crush Jun Qingfeng's momentum, and it would be even better if some "little accident" happened during the spar, leaving Jun Qingfeng heavily injured.
Yet all of this had been ruined by a little girl.
The girl had spoken with such high-sounding righteousness, claiming she wanted to fight in her father's place simply out of admiration for him.
However, making him fight a little girl was simply lowering his own status!
Suppressing the girl completely so she didn't have the slightest room to fight back was only natural.
Yet if he really did that, he would inevitably be criticized for lacking grace.
A junior in the family had earnestly sought his guidance, and yet he had suppressed her the entire time, giving her no chance to show her skills at all.
But if he actually went easy on her, and the girl managed to put on even a slightly impressive performance, wouldn't that mean this match would bring face to Third Brother's family?
Jun Qingya clenched his fists, realizing that the situation was far more troublesome than he had anticipated.
At that moment, two arrogant voices rang out one after the other.
"Bah! You little country girl actually dare to challenge my father?"
"That's right! My father is the Family Head. What status do you think you have, and are you even qualified for my father to guide you? Ridiculous!"Jun Zelin and Jun Zechuan leaped forward, pointing at Jun Jiuqi and cursing through gritted teeth.
Earlier that day, they had suffered a humiliating fall right in front of that bumpkin family, feeling utterly disgraced. Because of this, even though the banquet had been underway for a long time, the two of them had simply stayed quietly on the sidelines, trying to keep as low a profile as possible.
It wasn't until Jun Jiuqi stepped forward to challenge their father that the two of them instantly perked up, feeling that the time for them to turn the tables had finally arrived.
A cold glint flashed across Jun Qingfeng's eyes.
Jun Jiuqi gave her father a reassuring look, then turned around. "It's just a sparring match, what do I have to be afraid of? Besides, as a member of the Jun Family, I don't believe I'm even unqualified to ask the Family Head for a few pointers."
Jun Jiuqi lifted her delicate little chin and smiled provocatively at Jun Zelin and Jun Zechuan. "On the other hand, the two of you are acting in such a blind panic—could it be that someone is scared?"
Jun Zechuan's anger was completely ignited. "How ridiculous! Why would we be afraid? To deal with you, there's no need for Father to make a move at all! This young master can beat you flat myself!"
Jun Zelin chimed in, "That's right! If you've got the guts, let's spar! Let's see who's really afraid!"
The smile in Jun Jiuqi's eyes deepened. With just a tiny bit of provocation, those two had taken the bait, just as expected.
"Father, let me go!"
"Let me go!"
Jun Zelin and Jun Zechuan were practically bursting with eagerness to fight.
As the cream of the crop among the younger generation of the Jun Family, none of their peers in the family were currently a match for them.
Since Jun Jiuqi was merely a yellow-haired girl from the countryside, they were naturally full of confidence.
The expression on Jun Qingya's face had already softened. His two sons certainly hadn't disappointed him; they had stepped forward at precisely the right moment when he was caught in a dilemma.
And as the Family Head, his two children were naturally the most outstanding members of the Jun Family. Against this worthless daughter, such a match would be a foregone conclusion.
"Family Head, why not let Zechuan or Zelin spar with Xiao Jiu? Consider it a friendly match among the younger generation!"
"Indeed, I see the Third Miss is full of confidence. I'm sure she won't let us down."
Realizing that Jun Qingfeng didn't want to fight due to pride, some people present began to fan the flames from another direction.
However, the majority of the guests had grown somewhat listless.
Originally, everyone was extremely interested in watching the Family Head spar with the former genius of the Jun Family, eagerly waiting for a good show.
Who would have thought that a little girl like Jun Jiuqi would barge in, first provoking the Family Head and then turning it into a match against the family's two most outstanding juniors?
Obviously, no one believed that a little girl from the countryside could have any real skills. They considered a lopsided, one-sided beating of a match like this to be a complete waste of their time.
Of course, there were also those who wanted to see this arrogant little girl get taught a harsh lesson.
Lv Xiuer worriedly grasped her daughter's hand. Receiving his daughter's gaze, Jun Qingfeng ultimately swallowed back the words he had wanted to say.
"Very well, since that's the case, let's have a match! However, Zelin, Zechuan, whichever of you goes up in a moment, make sure to keep it moderate and don't hurt your younger sister."
Jun Qingya had the final say, but the subtext was crystal clear to everyone.
And thus, the entertaining sparring segment of the banquet was reduced to a contest between juniors.
Unable to contain himself any longer, Jun Zelin stepped straight into the center of the banquet grounds. "Get over here! Let's see if this young master doesn't beat your teeth all over the floor!"
Jun Zelin beckoned arrogantly and provokingly at Jun Jiuqi down below!
"Who told you to go up? Step aside, my turn!"
Not expecting Jun Zelin to beat him to the punch, Jun Zechuan stepped into the center of the banquet grounds as well, intending to shove Jun Zelin out of the way.
"Don't you know the rules of first come, first served? Get down there!"
Jun Zelin had no intention of moving aside whatsoever.
And so, before the match had even begun, Jun Zelin and Jun Zechuan started squabbling among themselves.
The fall that Jun Zelin and Jun Zechuan had taken in front of Jun Jiuqi's family that day had become a hurdle in their hearts that they simply couldn't get over. They both wanted to use this sparring opportunity to thoroughly teach this country girl a lesson and vent the pent-up anger in their chests.
Therefore, neither Jun Zelin nor Jun Zechuan would budge an inch, and they nearly came to blows just fighting over the right to challenge Jun Jiuqi.
Just when everyone thought Jun Qingya would step in to make the final decision on which son would fight,
Jun Jiuqi took a leisurely stroll and planted herself right opposite Jun Zelin and Jun Zechuan.
"What's the fun in a one-on-one? Why don't you both come at me together?"
Jun Jiuqi's voice wasn't loud, but it was clear enough for everyone present to hear.
The air in the banquet hall froze instantly, and even the endlessly bickering Jun Zelin and Jun Zechuan fell silent.
The two of them stared at Jun Jiuqi as if looking at a monster, as if they had heard some unimaginable joke.
"You want us to come at you together?" Jun Zelin was the first to clutch his stomach and burst into laughter. "Hahaha... Are you out of your mind?"
"Could it be that you want to fight two-on-one just so you can turn around and cry foul later, claiming we won an unfair fight?" Jun Zechuan's mind was running a bit deeper.
All sorts of taunts and insults rose from the surroundings, mostly mocking Jun Jiuqi for overestimating her own capabilities and indulging in wild fantasies.
Amidst these voices, Jun Jiuqi's expression remained unchanged. "What? Scared?"
"Who are you calling scared? Eldest brother, let's show her what we're made of!"
Jun Zechuan quickly united fronts with Jun Zelin. Since someone was actively seeking death, they had no choice but to grant her wish.
With that, the two of them simultaneously summoned their Martial Spirits. Accompanied by a rolling wave of pressure and surging spiritual energy, two white tigers materialized behind them!
"Roar—!"
Twin roars echoed through the air!
A scorching wave of heat hit them right in the face!
Jun Zelin and Jun Zechuan wanted to teach this ungrateful bumpkin a lesson so she would never dare spout such nonsense again.
"Are those the two young masters' beast Martial Spirits? How formidable!"
"To possess Rank Two intermediate strength at such a young age, they truly are geniuses of our Jun Family's younger generation!"
"Young Master, Second Young Master, go get her! Beat her!"
...
The crowd below cheered as they watched Jun Zelin and Jun Zechuan roar and charge toward Jun Jiuqi!
Jun Jiuqi didn't move.
As if she had been frightened out of her wits.
Just as the tiger's sharp claws were about to land on her, Jun Jiuqi moved!
With the speed of thunder, she vaulted into mid-air, dodging the white tiger's attack in the blink of an eye, and delivered a flying kick to each of their chests!
The leg-sweep, charged with tremendous force, sent both of them flying!
With two loud thuds, Jun Zelin and Jun Zechuan described an arc through the air and crashed down at the edge of the banquet grounds!
The two of them slammed heavily onto the ground, leaving them completely dazed for a moment!
The cheering and applauding crowd abruptly ground to a halt!
The scene fell into a momentary, deathly silence.
Followed by the sound of everyone sucking in sharp breaths of cold air.
"This... how is this possible?"
"Am I hallucinating? She defeated both young masters in a single move?"
"Impossible! Absolutely impossible! It must be sheer luck!"
...
Jun Qingya's beaming smile froze instantly. As he watched his two sons sent flying, his eyes filled with disbelief.
Jun Zelin and Jun Zechuan scrambled to their feet, completely unable to comprehend how they had just been kicked away!
"What kind of sorcery did you use?"
"Eldest brother, this stinky girl is weird! We don't need to hold back anymore!"
The two of them returned to the center of the arena. This time, carrying a bit more wariness, they summoned their white tigers and charged at Jun Jiuqi once again!
Jun Jiuqi easily dodged their attacks, her figure leaving a series of afterimages slicing across the arena.
In the blink of an eye, over a dozen moves had passed.
Far from touching Jun Jiuqi, the two of them hadn't even grazed the hem of her clothes.
Gradually, the crowd shifted from initial mockery to astonishment, until finally, they were left utterly speechless.
If the first time was a coincidence, how could they explain this?
A coincidence as well? How many coincidences could there possibly be in this world?
Jun Jiuqi acted as though she were toying with children. No matter how much fuss Jun Zelin and Jun Zechuan kicked up, in her eyes, their moves were nothing more than flashy fists and embroidered legs, completely vulnerable.
If she wanted to, she could crush the two of them in an instant.
But that would be far too boring.
Soon, Jun Zelin and Jun Zechuan lost their patience and grew impatient. The more impatient they became, the more their attacks lost accuracy. Deciding she had seen enough, Jun Jiuqi threw a punch that sent Jun Zechuan flying!
Jun Zechuan crashed heavily to the ground and lay there without moving for a long time.
When the crowd gathered around him, they discovered he had actually passed out cold!
One punch was all it took to settle the Second Young Master?
"You dare hurt my second brother?"
In the center of the banquet hall, seeing Jun Zechuan knocked flying, Jun Zelin flew into a rage and mobilized his entire body's spiritual energy!
Accompanied by a roar from the white tiger, it opened its mouth and fired a ball of spiritual energy straight at Jun Jiuqi!
"White Tiger Qi Light Wave!"
"It's the White Tiger Qi Light Wave!"
"She's a dead person now!"
The light sphere smashed forward, exploding right beside Jun Jiuqi!